USU falls in regional tournament

The Utah State baseball team lost in the final game of the regional tournament Sunday afternoon, ending the team’s chances at a repeat national championship.

Had the Aggies won the tournament, held in Missoula, Montana, they would have advanced to the National Club Baseball Association World Series.

“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively and just kind of came out a little flat in that last game,” said head coach Brad Singer.

The Aggies played two games on Sunday, defeating the University of Oregon 11-8 in the first game and then losing 7-2 in the championship game. The tournament was a double-elimination format, requiring Utah State to beat the Ducks twice to advance.

“By the end of the tournament we were just running out of steam,” said outfielder Alex Munns. “Everyone was pretty tired. Five games in three days is a lot. Losing that first game is always tough. It’s just hard to refocus and keep going stronger and to win four straight after that.”

Utah State began the tournament with an extra-innings loss to Oregon in the first game, making the team’s only option to win every game the rest of the tournament to advance.

The first game was tied at one run apiece at the end of the ninth inning, but Oregon was able to score four runs in the tenth frame and Utah State was unable to match.

“The first game was really close,” said pitcher Colton Draney. “It came down to that last inning and it just didn’t work for us.”

The result of the tournament swung on the loss in the first game, said outfielder Eric Stranski.

“I think if we win that first game, things could have been the opposite way around and we could find ourselves going to nationals,” Stranski said. “I felt it in my legs, to be honest. Just one game too many, it seemed.”

The Aggies also lost the first game of the World Series last season, but were able to win the rest of the games in the tournament on their way to the team’s second national championship.

Utah State almost matched that run in this tournament, defeating conference opponent Boise State and then Eastern Washington on Saturday before squaring off against Oregon on Sunday.

Despite the loss, the players and coaches think the Aggies will be in contention for another national championship next season.

“I will stand by it that this team is championship-worthy,” Singer said.

-thomas.sorenson@aggiemail.usu.edu

-Twitter: @tomcat340